iOS 4.1 isso last week . Along with Wednesday ’s announcement of AirPrint came the first iOS 4.2 genus Beta release for register members of Apple ’s iOS developer curriculum . Of the two software update , Io 4.2 is arguably the bad dismissal : not only does it last play the features of Io 4 ( and iOS 4.1 ) to the iPad , but it also at long last unifies Apple ’s peregrine software platform across its gimmick . Plus it in reality fetch a couple of Modern , outstanding feature film along with it .
Macworldhas taken a fink peek inside the next interpretation of iOS and brought you the lowdown on what you’re able to expect when the update hits your equipment in November .
AirPrint
Safari , Mail , and Photos all now summercater print option , usually under their Share buttons .
One of the biggest unexampled features swash by Apple CEO Steve Jobs during his annualsong - and - saltation in Septemberwas the ability to print wirelessly from the iPad . As Apple announced on Wednesday , however , AirPrint will play one of two elbow room at launch : with a compatible printer from HP ( and finally , we presume , printers from other manufacturers ) or with printer shared via your Mac or PC .
alas , we have neither one of those aforementioned printers nor the requisite software program for test shared printers ( it demand Mac OS X 10.6.5 ) so we ca n’t regale you with tales of making printouts seem from our iPad as though bymagic .
Safari, Mail, and Photos all now sport print options, usually under their Share buttons.
However , we can tell you that the photographic print choice appear in Safari , under the Share ikon to the right of the Bookmarks button ; in Mail , where it lives under the Reply push ; and in Photos , where you ’ll have to rap the Share clitoris before you get an choice to select and impress pictures . Tapping mark under any of these brings up a popover that asks you to select a printer by seek your internet , and a control for pick out the issue of written matter .
Third - party developers will also be able-bodied to build up in livelihood for AirPrint into their own applications , finally take wireless printing process to the masses .
AirPlay
The AirPlay menu in the iPad ’s iPod appOne of the other major feature that ’s new in iOS 4.2 is support for AirPlay , a new - and - improved edition of the AirTunes feature found in the current desktop version of iTunes .
With AirPlay , you ’ll be able to stream media — for example , medicine or telecasting — from an iPad , iPhone , or iPod touch to any AirPlay - compatible equipment . ab initio , AirPlay will work with only AirPort Express unit ( for audio ) and thenew Apple TV(for audio and telecasting ) , although Apple is licensing the technology to other vendors to appropriate them to sell AirPlay - compatible product — loudspeaker , receivers , and the like . ( iHome isone of the first companies to announce an AirPlay product . )
Whenever you ’re listening to music in an AirPlay - enhanced app — for exercise , the build - in iPod app — under iOS 4.2 , you ’ll see an AirPlay button . Tap this button , and any AirPlay - compatible devices on the same local web look in a popover carte . Tap a equipment , and your media is streamed at once to it . ( If you ’ve ever used Apple ’s Remote app to contain iTunes on your computer , the unconscious process of pick out an AirPlay terminus is similar to using the Remote app ’s Speakers menu to choose an AirPort Express for streaming music . )
The AirPlay menu in the iPad’s iPod app
As the new Apple TV is not yet available , we could n’t test video cyclosis — if you choose an AirPort Express as the AirPlay address from within the iPad ’s Videos app , for deterrent example , only audio frequency is streamed .
Additional iOS 4.2 features
NotesAfter three long year , our national nightmare of Marker Felt is last over . configurations now has a Notes section which allow you to flip your font to Chalkboard or , happily , Helvetica . It ’ll even update all your exist notes to apply your new font voice . you’re able to also set your default option account for Notes .
As of iOS 4.2 , the iPad ’s multitasking shelf now features a software program orientation lock and a brightness Pseudemys scripta .
Orientation LockLike the iPhone before it , the iPad now has a package projection screen orientation lock when you swipe to the right in the multitasking shelf . Unlike Apple ’s smaller gadget , you may lock the screen in portrait or landscape orientations . But expect , what about the iPad ’s hardware screenland orientation lock ? Turns out it ’s go , babe , gone — not the shift itself , of track , as that would be impressive for a software update , but it ’s now been repurposed as mute shift , as with its iPhone counterpart . At the moment , you’re able to also still carry down the volume down button for a couple second to mute the iPad , which is probably a redundant feature film that should be excised .
As of iOS 4.2, the iPad’s multitasking shelf now features a software orientation lock and a brightness slider.
BrightnessApple also added a brightness slider to the left of the media playback controls , a huge profits for those who wish surfing their iPads in a wispy room , but hate having to navigate all the way into the gut of preferences to find the ascendance .
Safari now allows you to enter text in the hunting box seat that you want to see for on a pageboy .
SafariiOS 4.2 get a twain of small addition to Apple ’s Web web browser app , but they ’re dainty one . For one thing , the page icon in Safari ’s toolbar will now show you how many pages you currently have unresolved . And you could also now search schoolbook on a page by entering your query in Safari ’s lookup box , and then tap the entry under the On This Page part at the bottom . You ’ll then be able to quickly jump from solution to result in the page , with Safari highlighting in scandalmongering all the instances of the term , just like on your Mac or PC .
Safari now allows you to enter text in the search box that you want to look for on a page.
iOS 4 and 4.1 features
Users who have updated their iPhones or iPod touches to iOS 4 will be vibrate to see , at long last , most of iOS 4 ’s feature film make their way to the iPad .
MultitaskingIn iOS 4.2 , the iPad tote up accompaniment for the same seven types of setting task that were introduced in iOS 4 . you may double - click the Home button to bring up a ledge that lease you quickly switch between apps ( on the iPad , it holds six icons in portrait orientation and seven in landscape painting modality ) . you may also play music in the backcloth , make screen background VoIP call , and receive local notice , as long as you ’re using an app that ’s been updated with livelihood for the relevant feature .
Folders work on the iPad just as they do on the iPhone , but they can defy up to 20 apps or else of 12 .
Folders work on the iPad just as they do on the iPhone, but they can hold up to 20 apps instead of 12.
FoldersCompulsive organizers and those deluged by apps will welcome the addition of leaflet with undefendable arms . for certain , the feature may have only first seem with iOS 4 ’s release this summer , but its absence on the iPad has made it feel like much , much longer . Thanks to the iPad ’s larger filmdom genuine land , folders can entertain 20 apps instead of the 12 you may fit on the iPhone .
MailThe iPad ’s translation of Mail get the unified inbox , conversation threading , and top - level inbox index inaugurate in iOS 4 , and — hurrah!—you’re able to eventually tap the iPad ’s menu prevention to jump back to the top of a content list in portrayal orientation as well as landscape .
Game CenteriPad user now get their own version of Apple ’s new Game Center app , specially designed for the app ’s tumid screenland — there ’s even a new home screen for the app that displays icons for Game Center - enable games ; tap any of them and you ’ll be taken to that app ’s listing in the App Store . Logging in with your existing account statement show all of your exist friends , achievements , and games .
CalendarThose with Microsoft Exchange accounts will now be able to see case invitations in the iPad ’s calendar app program , giving them one less excuse for skipping out on that morning coming together .
iOS 4.2 forever—or at least until iOS 5
We ’ll be honest : after checking out iOS 4.2 , the idea of get going back to 3.2.1 isinconceivable . Multitasking , folders — bless folders!—and Mail ’s improvements feel natural on the tablet and we ’re certain that AirPlay and AirPrint will make us even more at family when they at last get in in full forcefulness this November .
